Legal Research

Selections from National Law Journal Daily Headlines

By David Badertscher, PLL

Source: NLJ.com, April 9, 2009.

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FROM THE UPCOMING ISSUE  |  Public interest law lures deferred associates
"Call it a mixer for the new economy. Law school grads and 3Ls interested in public interest law met at Newark's Performing Arts Center with public interest organizations looking to hire them for the short term ? and for free. The event, dubbed "New Jersey's First Deferred Associates Public Interest Job Fair," was intended to connect incoming associates whose start dates have been deferred by their law firms, with public interest organizations that could use some virtually no-cost help. "

FROM THE UPCOMING ISSUE  |  With campaign funds frozen, Blagojevich may turn to taxpayers
"Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, whose limited funds have been frozen under a court request by federal prosecutors, may be forced to turn to a legal defense fund or U.S. taxpayers to pay for his lawyers. Attorneys involved in Blagojevich's case said they are negotiating with federal prosecutors in an effort to release some of the ex-governor's campaign funds to pay for his lawyers."

WEB-ONLY  |  A boost in mergers, but not necessarily a trend
"The number of U.S. law firm mergers during the first quarter of 2009 jumped by 50%, to 33 mergers, when compared to the first quarter of 2008. However, most of the recent mergers were between small firms."

WEB-ONLY  |  Former Web executive's false-suit claim lives on
"A lawsuit launched by a former executive of Internet discussion board AutoAdmit has survived a motion to dismiss leveled by a former Keker & Van Nest attorney and other defendants. In his lawsuit, Anthony Ciolli claims that he was wrongly included as a defendant in a case brought in June 2007 by the two law students, who alleged that AutoAdmit defamed them on its discussion board."

WEB-ONLY  |  A 20-law firm pro bono effort prepares to file scores of suits over Minneapolis bridge collapse
"Scores of lawsuit are in the pipeline as a result of fallout from the 2007 Minneapolis bridge collapse that killed 13 people and injured 145 more. A pro bono team comprised of 20 Minnesota law firms plans to file 100-plus negligence lawsuits in the next 60 days on behalf of the victims who were injured in the bridge collapse, and the relatives of those killed."

WEB-ONLY  |  Detroit's former top attorney sues city for alleged reverse discrimination, retaliation
"Claiming she was unfairly labeled a racist, Detroit's former top lawyer who was demoted for describing a local court as a "ghetto court" is suing the city for alleged reverse discrimination and retaliation. Kathleen Leavey, the former head of the Detroit Law Department, claimed her "ghetto court" comments were not about race, but rather about poor service, long lines and disorganization that plagues the 36th District court, which services mainly African Americans. "

Full post as published by New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library on April 09, 2009 (boomark / email).